Italian: Expressing External Obligation with dovere + infinitive
Learn to say what you have to do in Italian using dovere plus the infinitive, focusing on external obligations like work, appointments and deadlines.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Italian, the verb dovere means 'must' or 'to have to'. When you want to say that someone has to do something because of an external obligation, such as work, a schedule, a rule or another person's request, you use dovere followed by an infinitive. This lesson teaches the present-tense forms of dovere and shows how to talk about obligations in everyday situations.
By the end, you can…
- use the present-tense forms of dovere with an infinitive to express obligation.
- distinguish between external obligations and personal intentions in simple Italian sentences.
- ask and answer questions about what someone has to do today or tomorrow.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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Domani devo lavorare.
I have to work tomorrow.
doh-MAH-nee DEH-voh lah-voh-RAH-reh
Devo is the first-person singular of dovere. Use it for an obligation that comes from your job or schedule.
Devi studiare per l'esame.
You have to study for the exam.
DEH-vee stoo-DYAH-reh pehr leh-ZAH-meh
Devi is the second-person singular. It often expresses an obligation given by a teacher, parent or deadline.
Lui deve partire presto.
He has to leave early.
LOO-ee DEH-veh par-TEE-reh PREH-stoh
Deve is the third-person singular. Use it when someone else has an external obligation.
Dobbiamo pagare l'affitto.
We have to pay the rent.
dohb-BYAH-moh pah-GAH-reh lahf-FEET-toh
Dobbiamo is the first-person plural. It is common for shared household or financial obligations.
Non devi dimenticare le chiavi.
You must not forget the keys.
nohn DEH-vee dee-mehn-tee-KAH-reh leh KYAH-vee
Non devi + infinitive usually means 'you must not' (a prohibition). To say 'you don't have to', Italian normally uses non devi with a different context or, more clearly, non è necessario che tu... or non sei obbligato a... Here it warns against forgetting.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern is subject + dovere + infinitive. The verb dovere changes to match the subject: io devo, tu devi, lui/lei deve, noi dobbiamo, voi dovete, loro devono. The infinitive stays the same. For example: Io devo telefonare a mia madre. Tu devi finire i compiti. Noi dobbiamo arrivare alle otto. This pattern lets you talk about obligations without changing the main verb.
When to use it
Use dovere + infinitive when the obligation comes from outside you: a boss, a rule, a timetable, a family duty or a social commitment. For example: Devo andare in ufficio alle nove. Loro devono rispettare le regole. If you simply want to say what you intend to do, Italian often uses the present tense or volere: Vado in palestra stasera ('I'm going to the gym tonight') or Voglio andare in palestra ('I want to go to the gym'). Choose dovere when someone or something requires the action.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao, cosa devi fare oggi?
Hi, what do you have to do today?CHAH-oh KOH-zah DEH-vee FAH-reh OHD-jeeDevo lavorare fino alle sei, poi devo passare in banca.
I have to work until six, then I have to stop by the bank.DEH-voh lah-voh-RAH-reh FEE-noh AHL-leh SEH-ee poy DEH-voh pahs-SAH-reh een BAHN-kahAnch'io ho molto da fare. Dobbiamo vederci domani?
I have a lot to do too. Do we have to meet tomorrow?ahn-KEE-oh oh MOHL-toh dah FAH-reh dohb-BYAH-moh veh-DEHR-chee doh-MAH-neeSì, dobbiamo parlare del progetto. Ci vediamo alle dieci.
Yes, we have to talk about the project. See you at ten.see dohb-BYAH-moh par-LAH-reh dehl proh-JEHT-toh chee veh-DYAH-moh AHL-leh DYEH-cheeA little context goes a long way
In Italian, dovere is common in formal and informal contexts. In shops, offices and public services, you may hear Deve + infinitive when someone addresses you with the polite lei form: Deve compilare il modulo. Among friends and family, use the tu forms devi and devi. Regional usage varies: in some areas people lean on dovere for practical obligations, while elsewhere family and social duties may be expressed with other verbs like avere da or essere tenuto a. The meaning stays clear from context.
One thing to watch for
Using devo when you mean 'I want to' or 'I'm going to'.
Try this instead: Use volere or the present tense for intentions, and dovere for obligations. Say Voglio andare al cinema ('I want to go to the cinema') or Vado al cinema ('I'm going to the cinema'), not Devo andare al cinema unless someone or something requires it.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'We have to leave early' in Italian?
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Dobbiamo partire presto.
Dobbiamo is the first-person plural of dovere, and partire is the infinitive. You could also say Dobbiamo andare via presto, which is equally correct.
2Choose the correct form: Io ___ finire il lavoro. (devo / deve)
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devo
Io takes devo. Deve is for lui or lei. So the sentence is Io devo finire il lavoro.
3Translate: 'She has to study for the exam.'
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Lei deve studiare per l'esame.
Deve matches lei, and studiare is the infinitive. You can also omit lei if the subject is clear: Deve studiare per l'esame.
Use dovere + infinitive for external obligations. Match the form of dovere to the subject, and keep the main verb in the infinitive.
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